Fire Damages Fort Worth Stockyards Restaurant

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – Flames ripped apart a popular restaurant in the Fort Worth Stockyards early Tuesday morning. Firefighters arrived at The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, located in the 2400 block of North Main Street, shortly after 6:00 a.m. to find intense flames and heavy smoke coming from inside of the building.

Crews were able to get the blaze under control after about 20 minutes. Emergency officials shut down North Main Street in both directions, just north of downtown Fort Worth, while firefighters worked at the scene.

Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fire, but they have determined that it began on the porch outside the restaurant and next to the kitchen area, located near the back of the building. The flames then spread into the restaurant’s dining area. It did not spread to the banquet rooms. Nobody was inside of the building at the time of the incident, and there were no injuries reported.

Officials have not yet released an estimated damage report, however, owner and chef Tim Love was on the scene Tuesday morning, clearly heartbroken by the loss. “Thanks for the outpouring of support,” he tweeted. “We will reopen stronger!”

Love said that the kitchen area is completely gone, and lights in the dining area were melted. But he is hopeful that the restaurant can open back up to the public within 30 days. “We’re just happy everybody’s safe,” Love said, fighting back tears.

Love said the food left in the freezers was being donated to local charities.